English Chess Forum

I'm not sure how long they've been on the 4NCL website, but I see the 2019 - 20 rules have now been published.

One change that didn't make the "Main Changes (from 2018-19)" list on their website is that games on the Saturday of the last weekend will start at midday. Why? It means having an extremely early lunch, going without lunch or eating it during the game. What's the need to have most games finished by 4 - 4:30 pm, nearly all of them by 6 pm and probably all of them by 7 pm.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 23, 2019 10:55 pm

One change that didn't make the "Main Changes (from 2018-19)" list on their website is that games on the Saturday of the last weekend will start at midday. Why?

Is that to do with the Bank Holiday move to the Friday? The established time for the middle round of the three on the final weekend has long been 1pm. But why make it midday?

I'm speaking from memory but I think there is a proposal to have a blitz tournament on the Saturday evening, in which case I'd guess it's intended to bring forward the start of Saturday's round to ensure the round finishes before the blitz begins.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 23, 2019 10:55 pm

I'm not sure how long they've been on the 4NCL website, but I see the 2019 - 20 rules have now been published.

Captains were notified via e-mail at 17:26 yesterday so not long. Emphasis was made of the following:

Main Changes from 2019-20 Rules

Rule 1.3: Date of birth for eligibility as a junior updated.

Rule 3.1: There are now financial penalties for late submission of team registration lists (submission deadline 11 October).

Rule 9.4: Changes to team lists can still be made without penalty until midnight of the day before the fixture, but they should be made online or by email (in other words, do not rely on arbiters staying up late).

Rules 11.9 and 11.10: Amended to discourage the practice of teams in Swiss divisions attending for only part of a weekend.

Rule 13.3: Corrects last season’s rules’ rather odd failure to mention explicitly that four teams will be relegated from Division 3 South.

Eh, you have to be used to no lunch from the Sunday games anyway

MartinCarpenter wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 24, 2019 8:43 am

Eh, you have to be used to no lunch from the Sunday games anyway

No. I'm used to having lunch during the game.

For players from non-ENG federations is there a £1.50 pay to play fee per game?

Nick Burrows wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 4:47 pm

For players from non-ENG federations is there a £1.50 pay to play fee per game?

If the ECF are charging this to the 4NCL, I don't believe the league passes it on directly to the teams. Indirectly it would be charged back as a minor part of the expenses of running the league. But there might be a special deal anyway.

For Norm seekers, non-ENG players can be an advantage.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 5:27 pm

If the ECF are charging this to the 4NCL, I don't believe the league passes it on directly to the teams. Indirectly it would be charged back as a minor part of the expenses of running the league. But there might be a special deal anyway.

For Norm seekers, non-ENG players can be an advantage.

Thanks Roger, I have a non-ENG friend who may play for my team this season asking if he can play without ECF affiliation..

Nick Burrows wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 5:51 pm

Thanks Roger, I have a non-ENG friend who may play for my team this season asking if he can play without ECF affiliation..

That's not the whole story as he has to be from somewhere to appear on the FIDE rating list.

He is registered to Portugal. Is that enough to be eligible?

Nick Burrows wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:37 pm

He is registered to Portugal. Is that enough to be eligible?

Not since Brexit.

Nick Burrows wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:37 pm

He is registered to Portugal. Is that enough to be eligible?

That is enough. He only needs to be registered to any federation to be eligible to play - because then his results can be rated. It is a separate matter that if he were ENG registered he would also have to join the ECF, and complications arise when players from other countries but not registered to those countries wish to play 4NCL and do not want to be ENG registered (and different, but minor, complications if they are registered to another country but not yet rated) but no problems at all if already rated and registered to Portugal.

And Brexit is obviously irrelevant but I trust that no one was mistaking Nick Faulks for an authority on anything related to Brexit!

Jonathan Rogers wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 13, 2021 7:13 pm

That is enough. He only needs to be registered to any federation to be eligible to play - because then his results can be rated. It is a separate matter that if he were ENG registered he would also have to join the ECF, and complications arise when players from other countries but not registered to those countries wish to play 4NCL and do not want to be ENG registered (and different, but minor, complications if they are registered to another country but not yet rated) but no problems at all if already rated and registered to Portugal.

Thankyou Jonathan. Your sane prescence has been missed around here - welcome back.